International Women’s Day 2022 – Celebrating Sudanese Women in Education
” A young woman with knowledge, / her fingertips dusty / chalk white”
From The Talk, by Sue Wallace-Shaddad.
International Women’s Day 2022 – Celebrating Sudanese Women in Education
International Women’s Day this year falls amidst turbulence throughout the world. In these deeply troubling times, the quiet and courageous dedication of Sudanese women working in education is a source of consolation and strength.
This year’s International Women’s Day blog is a tribute to our Sudanese women literacy workers, teacher trainers and our sponsored university graduates. Our educational projects are led by Country Director, Mrs Neimat Issha and her tireless team at Women’s Education Partnership
Above, our literacy coordinator, Mrs Adila Osman, leading a literacy session in Al-Fatih, Khartoum.
We are currently sponsoring over 130 young women through university and teaching 400 women and girls to read, write and acquire skills to support their families. We are also running teachers training programs for those working in some of the most deprived and isolated schools in Khartoum.
Below, a literacy session at Al-Fatih; one of poorest communities in greater Khartoum.
See the difference elementary and literacy education can make to the lives of Sudanese women and girls and those of their communities in:
Below, some of our younger literacy circle attendees.
International Women’s Day 2022 – Celebrating Sudanese Women in Education
Below, Dr. Leila Bashir, international literacy expert and WEP advisor, speaking to literacy participants in Al-Fatih, greater Khartoum.
” A young woman with knowledge, / her fingertips dusty / chalk white”
In tribute to the life-changing, life-enriching work of Sudanese women in education, we reproduce, with kind permission of British poet, Sue Wallace-Shaddad, the poem, The Talk, taken from her short collection, A City Waking Up. The poem resonates with the quiet dignity and power of Sudanese women teachers, trainers and lecturers – creatively imparting knowledge despite sparse resources and challenging conditions. A City Waking Up, ISBN 978-1-913-32926-6, is published by Dempsey and Windle
Sue worked for the British Council for many years, across many countries, promoting education and culture. She has a close association with Sudan through her family visits there.
See too Sue’s blog, Sue Wallace Shaddad
Below, more on our university scholarship programme:
Below, more scenes from our women’s literacy program, picturing literacy students in session and graduation celebrations held at our literacy centres before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Educated women and girls have the power to change the world for the better.
Their contribution has never been more needed.
Women's literacy in Sudan 